Which permits does your market need?
Pick your city or county, tell us whether you'll have food, use public space, or set up tents and cooking, and get the permits that apply to you and your vendors, with fees, deadlines and official links. Covers 225 US cities and counties.
Updated
Tell us about your event.
Permits for your market in Atlanta, GA.
To run a vendor market in Atlanta, the organizer applies to the Mayor's Office of Special Events for an outdoor event permit, food vendors need a county health board temporary food permit that the organizer submits in Fulton County, and vendors need a city Business Occupational Tax Certificate and report Georgia sales tax on a Miscellaneous Sales Event form.
Not shown, based on your answers: food vendors. See everything for Atlanta.
Event permit.
Outdoor event permit (assembly, outdoor festival or large gathering)
The office permits all outdoor events and sorts them into assembly, outdoor festival or large gathering. Festivals pay a separate application fee and permit fee by attendance class, must present to the neighborhood planning unit, and must notify neighbors within three blocks.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Special Events
- When
- Outdoor events in the city. A vendor market with vending, tents 10x10 or larger or a stage on city property or parks counts as an outdoor festival when it expects at least 250 people on public property or 500 on private property. Large gatherings on private property mostly do not need an event permit. A few venues (Centennial Park, Piedmont Park Multipurpose Complex and others listed on the page) are booked directly with the venue instead.
- Fee
- Outdoor festival (for-profit) $100.00 application fee and $500.00 permit fee for 250-1,999 attendance; non-profit $50.00 application and $250.00 permit; large gathering $50.00 application fee
Other rules.
Special Event for Profit alcohol permit
The state issues a special event permit for selling alcohol at events that would otherwise need a retail license, applied for through the Georgia Tax Center.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Georgia Department of Revenue
- When
- Only if alcohol is sold at the event and the site does not already hold a state retail alcohol license
- Fee
- $25 non-profit; $50 for-profit malt beverage; $50 for-profit wine; $100 for-profit distilled spirits
- Timing
- Request the permit 10 days before the event
Vendor and business licenses.
Business Occupational Tax Certificate
Atlanta requires an occupational tax certificate of every business operating in the city, applied for through the ATLBIZ online portal with ID, notarized E-Verify and SAVE affidavits and any regulatory permit. The portal also lists a separate Vendor regulatory permit type, so ask the Office of Revenue whether event sellers need it.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Atlanta Department of Finance, Office of Revenue
- When
- Businesses operating within Atlanta city limits. A Georgia business located in another city registers where it is located and that registration is valid statewide, while out-of-state businesses register in each jurisdiction where they have a business location.
- Fee
- $75.00 registration fee and $50.00 zoning review fee for a new registration
Sales tax.
Miscellaneous Sales Event report (Form FS-32)
Unregistered sellers collect tax at the rate of the county where the event is held, report taxable sales on Form FS-32, and pay the tax by check or money order. The form and tax go to the Revenue Agent on duty at the end of the event or are mailed within 3 days.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Georgia Department of Revenue
- When
- Sellers at a one-off event who are not registered for Georgia sales tax; registered sellers report on their regular return
When to apply.
- Special Event for Profit alcohol permit: Request the permit 10 days before the event
Collect your vendors' permits with their applications.
Make the vendor licenses, sales tax registration and food permits above required documents on your application, and check them before you approve anyone.
Check with the office.
This checklist summarizes official government pages read on 2026-10-10. It isn't legal advice; rules, fees and deadlines change. Special events contact: 404-330-6741 / specialevents@atlantaga.gov. Full page and sources for Atlanta.
Common questions.
What permits do I need to host a vendor market?
Usually an event permit from the city or county, licenses and sales tax registration for vendors, and temporary food permits for anyone selling food. Parks, streets, tents and cooking can add more. Pick your city above to see the exact list.
Do I need a permit for a pop-up market on private property?
It depends on the city. Some only require permits on public property; others, like zoning temporary-use permits, apply anywhere. The checklist shows what each city's official pages say.
How far ahead should I apply for an event permit?
Often 30 to 90 days. The median deadline across 111 places in our study is 45 days, and 43 want 60 or more.
Permits sorted? Run the event on bzar.
Free for organizers: vendor applications with required documents, booth payments, tickets and check-in.